Method for performing multilingual market presearch through a two-way computer communication network and a communication system and information recording medium for the same method

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a system for making it possible to quickly and securely perform particularly an international market research in many languages through a two-way computer communication network.  
     In a two-way computer communication network (an extranet or the Internet) using a digital wire communication network  1 , a multilingual market research Web site apparatus  2  receives a request for a multilingual market research, performs invitation of answerers to the multilingual market research, asks the answerers who have applied for the invitation to answer to the multilingual market research, and performs a report based on answer information to the market research from answerers. A multilingual user apparatus  3  responds to the invitation of answerers to the multilingual market research from the multilingual market research Web site apparatus  2 , and transfers information related to the requested market research. And a multilingual market research requester apparatus  4  requests a multilingual market research and receives a report of the market research from the multilingual market research Web site apparatus  2.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for performing amultilingual market research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork, performing for example an international market research in manylanguages utilizing a two-way computer communication network, and acommunication system and information recording medium for the samemethod.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Up to now, an example of utilizing a communication network(intranet, Internet and extranet) under a TCP/IP (Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol) environment is known as a market research(properly, written as a “market research” or abbreviated as MR) througha two-way computer communication network of this kind. For example,there is publicly known such a market research that an administrator ofa banner advertisement with a quiz offering a prize collects theaddress, name, electronic mail address and the like inputted by a readerof the banner advertisement into a home page and utilizes suchinformation (personal attribute information) as answers to the quiz andthe like. Such a market research is domestically performed in general.In other words, such a market research is performed in one language.

[0003] Recent commercial distribution to be the subject of a marketresearch is expanded either inside or outside a country. That is to say,commodity purchase through mail order from foreign countries (forexample, personal imports) and the like are active, and for an efficientsale or service offer, an international market research has been needed.In such an international market research, information of a marketresearch performed in a country is often obtained in another country andtranslated and then utilized.

[0004] Therefore, an international market research has a problem that ittakes a long time for acquisition and translation of information, makesit difficult to quickly obtain market information and hinders aneffective market development. As such translation utilizing a two-waycomputer communication network (intranet, Internet and extranet), thereis an example of building a Web site in each language of many languagesand making each Web server perform a translation process of a language.This example brings the enlargement of processing scale and apparatusscale.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In such a conventional example as described above, there is aproblem that an international market research using many languages hasnot been established and, for example, a multinational corporationcannot easily develop onto the market.

[0006] The present invention attempts to solve such a problem of theprior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor performing a multilingual market research through a two-way computercommunication network,

[0007] said method making it possible to quickly and surely performparticularly an international market research in many languages by meansof a two-way computer communication network and for example making iteasy for a multinational corporation to develop onto the market, and acommunication system and information recording medium for the samemethod.

[0008] In order to attain the above object, a method for performing amultilingual marketing research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork according to the present invention is characterized bycomprising a step in which a market research performing side receives arequest for a multilingual market research, a step in which the marketresearch performing side invites answerers to the multilingual marketresearch through said communication network, a step in which the marketresearch performing side asks the answerers who have applied for theinvitation to answer to the market research in many languages throughsaid communication network, a step of translating answer information tothe multilingual market research through a multilingual translationnetwork, and a step in which the market research performing sideperforms a report based on answer information to the market researchfrom the answerers to the market research requester side.

[0009] A method of the present invention is characterized in that saidmultilingual market research is an international market research relatedto areas where many languages are in use and/or users of many languages.

[0010] Further, a method of the present invention is characterized inthat said market research performing side obtains attribute informationrelated to answerers including their translatable languages, areas,names, addresses, sexes and ages from the answerers when invitinganswerers to said multilingual market research, and selects contents ofrequested market research information, said contents being matched withthe attribute information, and asks the answerers to answer to themarket research.

[0011] And a method of the present invention is characterized in that ananswerer performs translation through said multilingual translationnetwork when the answerer answers to the market research. Further, amethod of the present invention is characterized in that the marketresearch performing side receives answer information to the marketresearch from an answerer through a communication network and thereaftera translator other than the answerer performs translation through saidmultilingual translation network. And a method of the present inventionis characterized in that said market research performing side and themarket research requester side are the same as each other.

[0012] Further, a method of the present invention is characterized bysettling a reward to said answerer and a charge for said market researchthrough the communication network.

[0013] And a method of the present invention is characterized bysettling said reward to an answerer by offering an article including agift certificate.

[0014] Further, a method of the present invention is characterized inthat the market research performing side judges whether or not saidanswer information to the market research from an answerer is adequateand, in case that the answer information is inadequate, asks a questionof the answerer to compensate for the inadequacies. And a method of thepresent invention is characterized in that the market researchperforming side gives a password to each of answerers and the marketresearch requester side and performs transmission/reception ofinformation through the communication network by means of the passwords.

[0015] A multilingual market research communication system of thepresent invention characterized by comprising a multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus for receiving a request for a multilingualmarket research, performing invitation of answerers to the multilingualmarket research, asking an answerer who has applied for this invitationto answer to the multilingual market research and transferring a reportbased upon answer information to the market research from answerers tothe market research requester side, a multilingual user apparatus forresponding to the invitation of answerers to the multilingual marketresearch from said multilingual market research Web site apparatus andtransferring answer information to the requested market research, and amultilingual market research requester apparatus for requesting saidmultilingual market research Web site apparatus to perform amultilingual market research and receiving a report of the marketresearch from said multilingual market research Web site apparatus.

[0016] A system of the present invention is characterized in that saidcommunication network is a communication network under a TCP/IPenvironment. And a system of the present invention is characterized inthat said communication network is a public or non-public wirecommunication network, and said multilingual market research Web siteapparatus, multilingual user apparatus and multilingual market researchrequester apparatus each are a fixed computer.

[0017] Further, a system of the present invention is characterized inthat said communication network is a public or non-public mobilecommunication network, and said multilingual market research Web siteapparatus, multilingual user apparatus and multilingual market researchrequester apparatus each are of a composition having a mobile telephoneconnected to a mobile computer or are a mobile telephone having a mobilecomputer function built in it.

[0018] And a system of the present invention is characterized in that anet-bank apparatus for settling a reward to be paid by said multilingualmarket research Web site apparatus side to a multilingual user apparatusside in compensation for an answer to the market research and a chargefor the market research to be received by the multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus side from the multilingual market researchrequester apparatus side is further arranged on the communicationnetwork.

[0019] Further, a system of the present invention is characterized inthat said multilingual market research Web site apparatus is providedwith a multilingual market research database for, on request, matching(tracking) market research contents stored in it with attributeinformation related to answerers including their translatable languages,areas, names, addresses, sexes and ages obtained when inviting theanswerers to a multilingual market research.

[0020] And a system of the present invention is characterized in thatsaid multilingual market research Web site apparatus and saidmultilingual market research requester apparatus are separately arrangedon the communication network, and said multilingual market research Website apparatus and said multilingual market research requester apparatusare operated by different operators, or said multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus and said multilingual market researchrequester apparatus are formed in one and said multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus is operated by an operator of saidmultilingual market research requester apparatus. Further, a system ofthe present invention is characterized in that said system compositionfunctions as a multilingual translation network for performingmultilingual translation using a communication network.

[0021] At information recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized by storing in it a program for enabling a substantialcomputer to control a process in which a market research performing sidereceives a request for a multilingual market research, a process inwhich the market research performing side performs invitation ofanswerers to the multilingual market research through said communicationnetwork, a process in which the market research performing side asks theanswerers who have applied for the invitation to answer to themultilingual market research through said communication network, aprocess of translating answer information to the multilingual marketresearch through a multilingual translation network, and a process inwhich the market research performing side performs a report based onanswer information to the market research from answerers to the marketresearch requester side.

[0022] An information recording medium of the present invention ischaracterized by storing in it a program for enabling a substantialcomputer to control one process or some combined processes or all of thefollowing processes (a) to (g), namely, (a) a process of performing arequest for a market research and a report of a market research througha communication network, (b) a process of selecting market researchcontents matched with attribute information obtained when invitinganswerers to the multilingual market research and asking answerers toanswer to the market research, (c) a process in which an answererperforms translation when answering to the market research, (d) aprocess in which the market research performing side receives answerinformation to the market research through a communication network andthereafter a translator other than the answerer translates the answerinformation through a multilingual translation network, (c) a process ofsettling a reward to an answerer and a charge for the market researchthrough a net bank on the communication network, (f) a process ofcorrecting and compensating for inadequate answer information to themarket research from an answerer through a communication network, and(g) a process of transmitting/receiving information through acommunication network by means of passwords.

[0023] Such a method for performing a multilingual market researchthrough a two-way computer communication network of the presentinvention, and a communication system and information recording mediumfor the same method ask the invited answerers to a market research inmany languages to answer to the multilingual market research on atwo-way computer communication, for example, an extranet (the Internet),and then obtain answers corresponding to each of areas where the manylanguages are in use or users of the many language.

[0024] As a result, it becomes possible to quickly and securely performparticularly an international market research in many languages througha two-way computer communication network. For example, it is becomespossible to quickly and securely perform an international market by arequest from a multinational corporation and to enable the multinationalcorporation to easily develop onto the market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the total configuration of anembodiment of the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a composition example of a mainpart of a Web server in the embodiment.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining multilingual translation in theembodiment.

[0028]FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining a functional compositionfor performing a translation process of FIG. 3.

[0029]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure ofmultilingual translation utilizing a multilingual translation network inthe embodiment.

[0030]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a maintenance procedure in manylanguages by the functional composition shown in FIG. 5.

[0031]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing processes in a multilingualmarket research database in the embodiment.

[0032]FIG. 8 is a rough sequence diagram in performance of amultilingual market research of the present invention.

[0033]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure related toinvitation of answerers to a multilingual market research in theembodiment.

[0034]FIG. 10 shows a display screen of invitation of answerers to amultilingual market research in the embodiment.

[0035]FIG. 11 shows an input screen of application to invitation ofanswerers to a multilingual market research in the embodiment.

[0036]FIG. 12 is a processing procedure of performance of a multilingualmarket research in the embodiment.

[0037]FIG. 13 shows a display screen of a market research site in manylanguages in the embodiment.

[0038]FIG. 14 shows another display screen of a market research site inmany languages in the embodiment.

[0039]FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the composition of a main partof a mobile communication network in the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0040] Next, embodiments of a method for performing a multilingualmarket research through a two-way computer communication network, and acommunication system and information recording medium for the samemethod are described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 isa block diagram showing the structure of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0041] In FIG. 1, this example is a two-way computer communicationnetwork under a TCP/IP environment, and shows a rough compositionexample of an extranet in which the Internet of each country (includingareas also) of plural countries is connected to the Internet of anothercountry. In this example extranet,

[0042] for example, a multilingual market research (MR) Web siteapparatus 2 for performing a multilingual market research and aplurality of multilingual user apparatuses 3 for performing amultilingual translation and market research are connected to a digitalwire communication network 1 (ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network)as the Internet built in Japan (country A).

[0043] A market research in many languages in this case means a marketresearch to an area where a specific language in many languages is inuse or to users of this specific language. Therefore, answers to amarket research are not necessarily written in the said language.Translation of answers to the market research is translation into alanguage required by a requester side. Further,

[0044] a report to the requester side also results in being a reportwritten in a language specified by the requester side instead of areport written in a language of the area where the market research hasbeen performed.

[0045] Further, a plurality of multilingual market research (MR)requester apparatuses 4 for requesting a multilingual market research ofthe multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 side and anet-black apparatus 5 for performing a net settlement (electroniccommercial transaction) of a charge for a market research in manylanguages are connected to a digital wire communication network 1 ofthis example. A multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 isinstalled in a company which performs a multilingual market research,and a multilingual user apparatus 3 is installed in the site of acompany or person to be an object (answerer) of a multilingual marketresearch. Further, a multilingual market research requester apparatus 4is installed in the site of a company or person to request amultilingual market research.

[0046] Charges to be an object of net settlement include a charge for amultilingual market research which the multilingual market researchrequester apparatus 4 side has requested of the multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus 2 and a reward for an answer to the marketresearch which the multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2side has requested of a multilingual user apparatus 3. As such a rewardfor an answer, there are various kinds of rewards including a giftcertificate and the like among countries, and is described in detailafter this.

[0047] Further, in the configuration of FIG. 1, networks built in therespective countries (country A, country B and country C) are connectedwith one another through a gateway (GW) apparatus 6. A network built ineach of the countries B and C has the same configuration as theconfiguration from the digital wire communication network 1 to thenet-bank apparatus 5, and detailed illustration of it is omitted.

[0048] The digital wire communication network 1 is well known incomposition and transmission method as ISDN, and is of a networkconfiguration in which a digital exchange (PBX) is installed in atransmission circuit network.

[0049] In this example, a UNIX workstation is used as the multilingualmarket research Web site apparatus 2 in FIG. 1 and a general-purposesmall computer is used by an answerer in a multilingual market researchas the multilingual user apparatus 3. In ease that an answerer in amultilingual market research is a company or the like, a UNIXworkstation system may be used. And as the net-bank apparatus 5 in FIG.1, for example a UNIX workstation system is used and further, as themultilingual market research requester apparatus 4, a general-purposesmall computer to be personally used is used. In case that a translationrequester is a company or the like, for example a UNIX workstationsystem is used as the multilingual market research requester apparatus4.

[0050] A general-purpose small computer to be used as the multilingualuser apparatus 3 and the multilingual market research requesterapparatus 4 is of a publicly known composition in hardware. That is tosay, it is provided with an interface (I/F) circuit to be connected to acircuit connecting device (digital terminating device (DSU), terminaladaptor (TA) and the like) as well as a microprocessor (MPU) composed ofa CPU, a ROM, a working RAM and the like. And this general-purpose smallcomputer is provided with a reader/writer device which installs acommunication protocol and a program for performing a market researchusing many languages or their translation and reads/writes process databy means of an information recording medium (floppy disk (FD), CD-ROM,detachable memory MS).

[0051] A market research using many languages or their translationaccording to the present invention is hereinafter abbreviated as a“multilingual market research of the present invention”.

[0052] Further, this general-purpose small computer is provided with amonitor device such as a color liquid crystal display (LCD) device andan input device consisting of a keyboard and a coordinates input device(mouse, input pad and the like), and is further provided with aninput/output (I/O) circuit for performing a data input/output process tothe respective portions. And this general-purpose small computer isprovided with a memory for storing process data in it and particularly ahard disk device performing a file operation for performing a“multilingual market research of the present invention”, and is providedwith an I/F circuit for performing connection with a printer and thelike.

[0053] The UNIX workstation system of the multilingual market researchWeb site apparatus 2 or the net-bank apparatus 5 in FIG. 1 are publiclyknown in hardware composition.

[0054] This UNIX workstation system is provided with a circuitconnecting device comprising a DSU, a router and the like, a Web serverbeing a main computer for performing a basic communication process and adatabase. And this UNIX workstation system is generally provided withalso an edition server (for an i-mode mobile telephone, for example) forreediting such distributed data as graphics, characters and the likeadaptively to application.

[0055] And such a UNIX workstation is provided with an interface circuitfor installing a firewall application into a Web server and connectingan electronic mail/image (FAX) server or a general-purpose smallcomputer. Further, a configuration in which such a UNIX workstation isprovided with a LAN server for performing a sequence, an FTP server forperforming an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) file transfer, aninterworking function (IWF) server for processing connection on theInternet or the like and a Web server dedicated to executing a firewallapplication for prevention of invasion, and the like is publicly known.

[0056] In addition to these configurations, the UNIX workstation isprovided with a reader/writer device for installing a communicationprotocol and a program for performing a “multilingual market research ofthe present invention” through an information recording medium andreading/writing process data, and a multilingual market researchprocessing database performing various kinds of file processes (datastorage and retrieval/multilingual market research processing databaseengine using a relational system or network system) for performing a“multilingual market research of the present invention” and a DNS serverused for a distributed name management system (DNS: Domain Name System).

[0057] And in addition to this configuration, the net-bank apparatus 5is generally provided with an SSL server for performing an encryptioncommunication protocol (SSL: Secure Sockets Layer) used in an encryptiontransmission for various kinds of security protection. Such a Web serverunder a TCP/IP environment is implemented as a multifunctional apparatusby using a computer and having a communication protocol and a programinstalled in it. And the Web server has the same composition as ageneral-purpose small computer, and may be changed in architectureadaptively to said “multilingual market research of the presentinvention”.

[0058] In this case it is enough to make its composition inconsideration of traffic volume in processing a communication protocoland in consideration of the quantity of process data in data processing.For example, such a system may be composed in consideration of aduplexed CPU configuration, disposition of a plurality of multilingualmarket research databases, use of a mass storage and the like. FIG. 2 isa block diagram showing a composition example of a main part of a Webserver for carrying out the present invention. This example is providedwith an I/F circuit 10 which is connected to a bus of a UNIX workstationand performs an interface process with another apparatus notillustrated. And this example is provided with a microprocessor (MPU) 11to be connected to the I/F circuit 10 and a bus. The microprocessor 11is composed of a working RAM, a RAM having a boot control program storedin it, an input/output (I/O) circuit, a CPU and the like. Themicroprocessor 11 is provided with an I/F circuit 12 for connecting witha general-purpose small computer and a reader/writer device 13.

[0059] The reader/writer device 13 installs a communication protocol anda program for performing a “multilingual market research of the presentinvention” through an information recording medium (floppy disk (FD),CD-ROM or detachable memory MS) and reads/writes process data. And themicroprocessor 11 is provided with a video RAM (V-RAM) 14 and acharacter font conversion circuit 15 for converting/generating the sizeof characters displayed for each language. This character fontconversion circuit 15 is composed of a RAM and the like comprising aconversion table for converting each language character at a ratio ofthe smallest font. Output of the V-RAM 14 is transferred to a monitordevice 16 connected to a bus of a multidrop mode. And the microprocessor11 performs data processing for performing a “multilingual marketresearch of the present invention” with a multilingual market research(MR) database (DB) apparatus 17 connected to the bus.

[0060] The multilingual market research database apparatus 17 can bealso distributively disposed at a remote place using a router and thelike.

[0061] Next, the process and operation of this embodiment are describedin the following order.

[0062] (1) Application related to communication operation of eachapparatus in FIG. 1

[0063] (2) Transmission form of the digital wire communication network 1shown in FIG. 1

[0064] (3) Operation of each apparatus shown in FIG. 1

[0065] (4) Program in each apparatus shown in FIG. 1

[0066] (5) Multilingual translation network

[0067] (6) Process in a multilingual market research database

[0068] (7) Outline of performance of a “multilingual market research ofthe present invention”

[0069] (8) Details of a “multilingual market research of the presentinvention”

[0070] (8-1) Invitation of answerers to a market research

[0071] (8-2) Processing procedure of performance of a market research

[0072] (9) Another embodiment being in combination with a mobilecommunication network

[0073] (1) Application related to communication operation of eachapparatus in FIG. 1

[0074] Each apparatus shown in FIG. 1 performs, as its communicationprotocol and program, a communication connecting process by means ofTCP/IP, a language processing function (writing and speech processing,JPEG static image processing or MPEG dynamic image processing by meansof data compression) by means of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language),transfer by means of a hyperlink function, a two-way communication bymeans of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), file transfer by FTP, andan external application by means of CGI (Common Gateway Interface). Eachapparatus is equipped with a Web browser (application) for performing atelectronic mail communication and extranet (Internet) surfing for thispurpose.

[0075] In FIG. 1, each apparatus performs a file transfer by publiclyknown IP packets in two-way communication through a TCP/IP link. Such atransfer process on an extranet is performed by an object pointingoperation in HTTP (object pointing (clicking) to a radio button, anchor,push button or the like by a coordinates input device such as a mouse orthe like). In this case, an end description character (FIN) of openingof a TCP connection, an acknowledgement character (ACK) and the like arestored in a file format, and a the transfer is performed throughidentification of them.

[0076] (2) Transmission form of the digital wire communication network 1shown in FIG. 1

[0077] The digital wire communication circuit network 1 shown in FIG. 1transmits packets at transmission rates of 64 kbits/sec, 384 kbits/secand 1.5 Mbits/sec, for example. At a transmission rate of 64 kbits/sec,it performs a “2B+D (information channels of 32 kbps X2+control channelof 16 kbps)” transmission through a packet switching procedure X.31(1.430/1.431, Q.921/Q.931, X.25 Protocol) by ITU-T Recommendations. Itis acceptable also to apply another high-speed transmission method(asymmetric digital transmission, for example) and to apply a high-speedcommunication method (gigabit high-speed data communication method, forexample).

[0078] (3) Operation of each apparatus shown in FIG. 1

[0079] A general-purpose small computer for the multilingual userapparatus 3 and the multilingual market research requester apparatus 4shown in FIG. 1 performs a well-known operation. Detailed description ofit is omitted.

[0080] Further, a UNIX workstation for the multilingual market researchWeb site apparatus 2 and the net-bank apparatus 5 in FIG. 1 performs asequence for performing a “multilingual market research of the presentinvention” through a Web server, a LAN server and the like.

[0081] (4) Program in each apparatus shown in FIG. 1

[0082] The general-purpose small computer or UNIX workstation performs a“multilingual market research of the present invention” by means of acommunication protocol and a program executed by a CPU (including also aCPU of the Web server). These communication protocol and program areinstalled into each apparatus together with said general-purposecommunication protocol and program in combination with a communicationprotocol and program specialized in performing a “multilingual marketresearch of the present invention”.

[0083] Said “multilingual market research of the present invention” isprovided as an information recording medium (FD, CD-ROM or detachablememory for example) having its program stored in it. In other words, itis offered as a general-purpose package capable of being on the market.

[0084] (5) Multilingual translation network In a two-way computercommunication network shown in FIG. 1, a system of the present inventionperforms a “multilingual market research of the present invention” andfunctions also as a multilingual translation network performingtranslation in many languages through a communication network.

[0085]FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining this multilingual translationand market research (market research/MR) process, and FIG. 4 is a blockdiagram for explaining a functional composition for performing thetranslation and market research of FIG. 3.

[0086] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the multilingual translation andmarket research process comprises;

[0087] (a) a step of changing a master Web site on the basis of amultilingual translation,

[0088] (b) a step of automatically selecting language data fortranslation excluding non-language data (image data of graphics andphotographs) from master contents of the master Web site,

[0089] (c) a step of translating language data through a “multilingualtranslation network” where translators performing translation in manylanguages are organized on an extranet, said translation being anautomatic machine translation or a manual input translation,

[0090] (d) a step of reentering language data which have been translatedand transferred through the “multilingual translation network” into amultilingual market research database apparatus 17, and

[0091] (e) a step of automatically changing the Web site.

[0092] Such a multilingual translation process utilizing themultilingual translation network is also used in a multilingual marketresearch.

[0093]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of performing amultilingual translation utilizing a multilingual translation network,and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of performing maintenanceof the multilingual translation.

[0094] In FIG. 5, for example, master contents are generated by means ofa template (step S11). Next, language data in the master contents aretranslated (step S12). Routines for the processes in steps S21 and S22are repeated for necessary languages. Next, the translated language dataare stored together with control information into the multilingualmarket research database (step S13). Further, the language data areconverted into HTML data and then are written into the master contentson request (step S14).

[0095] In FIG. 6, the change of the master contents is monitored (stepS21). A language data file needing to be translated is automaticallyselected (step S22). The language data is translated (step S23).Routines for the processes in steps S21 to S23 are repeated fornecessary languages. Next, the translated language data are reenteredinto the multilingual processing database (step S24).

[0096] (6) Process in a multilingual market research database FIG. 7 isa block diagram for explaining a process in a multilingual marketresearch processing database.

[0097] In FIG. 7, this multilingual market research processing databaseis used in a multilingual market research as well as a multilingualtranslation network described with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Thismultilingual market research processing database performs its dataprocessing by executing a database access management program. Thisaccess management program performs requests for reference, addition,update, deletion and the like of data with respect to the multilingualmarket research processing database and performs acquisition of theirresults.

[0098] And database management data are exchanged by executing thedatabase access management program. These database management data arean actual multilingual market research processing database position andan actual multilingual market research processing database namecorresponding to a contents language and the like. And data areexchanged with a contents language database by executing the databaseaccess management program. This contents language database is composedof a plurality of database servers. And in the multilingual marketresearch processing database, the tracking (matching judgment) of theattribute information of an answerer (multilingual user apparatus 3)(the personal information of an answerer including its translatablelanguage, area, name, address, sex and age) with market researchcontents is performed and answer data to a market research are stored.

[0099] Such a multilingual market research processing database isprovided with a plurality of servers, which can be distributivelydisposed. An actual server name, server position, multilingual marketresearch processing database name and the like are acquired fromdatabase management data in response to a request for a language ID, apage ID and the like, and a multilingual market research processingdatabase desired out of database servers is accessed.

[0100] (7) Outline of performance of a “multilingual market research ofthe present invention” FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram showing an outlineof a “multilingual market research of the present invention”.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 8, this outline of a “multilingual marketresearch of the present invention” corresponds to the followingflowcharts of FIGS. 8 and 9. The multilingual market research Web siteapparatus 2 takes in a request for translation from a multilingualmarket research requester apparatus 4 by way of an electronic mail or aWeb site (home page) through a digital wire communication network 1. Thelanguage of this request is one language out of many languages(Japanese, for example).

[0102] Therefore, the multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2is provided with a Web browser of application capable of reading manylanguages as a general-purpose Web browser. For example, an applicationfor performing judgment by tracking (matching) with a language possibleto be transferred in advance is installed. And like “cookie”, itslanguage is judged by identifying that it is a former visitor to thehome page. It is acceptable also to identify a navigation language ornavigation browser language returned by the installed Web browser.

[0103] Next, the multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2transfers a request for translation to a multilingual user apparatus 3side being capable of translating a language specified by the requestand answering to the market research. The multilingual user apparatus 3side makes and transfers an answer to the specified market research tothe multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2.

[0104] The multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 stores thetransferred answer data to the multilingual market research into themultilingual market research database apparatus 17 in FIG. 2. Afterthis, it examines this database and, in case that a defect has beenfound by this examination, asks a question and replenishes additionaldata to complete a report. This report is transferred from themultilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 to the multilingualmarket research requester apparatus 4. After this, electronic settlementof accounts (transfer of fund) using a debit card and the like isperformed among the multilingual user 3 side, the multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus 2 and the net-bank apparatus 5 according toneed.

[0105] Various kinds of payment methods (bank transfer of fund, checkpayment and the like) using no net-bank apparatus 5 in particular may beapplied to this settlement of accounts.

[0106] (8) Details of “multilingual market research of the presentinvention”

[0107] (8-1) Invitation of answerers to a market research FIG. 9 is aflowchart showing a processing procedure of invitation of answerers to amultilingual market research. And FIG. 10 shows a display screen forinvitation of answerers to the multilingual market research, and FIG. 11shows an input screen for applying for invitation of answerers to themultilingual market research.

[0108] In FIG. 9, in response to a request from a multilingual marketresearch requester apparatus 4, an administrator of a multilingualmarket research Web site apparatus 2 prepares and opens a home page forinviting answerers to the market research by means of a multilingualservice (see MLWS in FIG. 3) on the Web site (steps S31 and S32). Amultilingual user apparatus 3 side (registered user) who has read thishome page of the Web site inputs its own data into an application formof the home page and transmits (transfers) the inputted data by pointing(clicking) the object of transmission (steps S33 and S34).

[0109] The multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 side takesin and examines the form data from the multilingual user apparatus 3side through CGI and the administrator judges whether or not the dataare adequate (steps S35, S36 and S37). In case that the form data fromthe multilingual user apparatus 3 side are inadequate (No in S37), themultilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 side asks again anadditional question of the multilingual user apparatus 3 side byelectronic mail and the multilingual user apparatus 3 side inputs andreplenishes the additional information to the display screen (step S38).

[0110] After this replenishment by the additional question or when themultilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 side has judged theform data to be adequate (Yes in S37), the data of the multilingual userapparatus 3 side (registered user) are registered at the multilingualmarket research database apparatus 17 (step S39).

[0111] This registration at the database is the registration at acontents language database shown in FIG. 7 corresponding to a selectedlanguage in FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 10, on this display screen of invitation, radiobuttons (Japanese, English, and so forth) for selecting a language(Language) is displayed and the following items related to an outline ofthe market research on an extranet.

[0113] (a) Outline of the market research (explanation of an outline ofthe multilingual market research)

[0114] (b) Outline of the sponsor (an outline of the company performingthe market research)

[0115] Nationality (explanation of the nation of the company performingthis market research)

[0116] Location (explanation of the location of the company performingthis market research)

[0117] Outline of business (explanation of an outline of the business ofthe company performing this market research)

[0118] (c) Outline of invitation of registered users (multilingual userapparatus 3 side)

[0119] Purport (explanation of the purport of the multilingual marketresearch)

[0120] Targeted objects (explanation of what country (area) and whatpeople are targeted by the market research)

[0121] Reward (explanation of a reward for cooperation with the marketresearch) This reward is a reward for an answer (including translation),and points corresponding to the number of answered items or to thedegree of difficulty in answer are given. Further, an article or a giftcertificate is offered (sent) according to the points. The article andgift certificate are displayed in number and content on the displayscreen, and selection of them is performed by an answerer.

[0122] And the reward is settled by transfer of fund between companies.For example, a multinational restaurant chain or a multinationalgasoline sales network is utilized.

[0123] Protection of personal information (explanation of prohibition ofleakage of the personal (attribute) information of registered users)(d)How to contact (explanation of how to obtain and use the URL of a marketresearch Web site and the password for reading and answering byelectronic mail)

[0124] (e) How to answer (explanation of how to write to a home page ofthe market research Web site and how to transmit) Referring to FIG. 11,on this input screen of application, radio buttons (Japanese, English,and so forth) for selecting a language (Language) is displayed and thefollowing items to input to the input screen are displayed.

[0125] There are displayed answerer's country of residence, language indaily use (including the possibility of translation into a requestedlanguage), name, electronic mail (e-mail) address, age, sex (to beselected), occupation, annual income and hobby as well as objects oftransmission (transfer) and cancellation of the input screen.

[0126] (8-2) Processing procedure of performance of a market research

[0127]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure ofperforming a multilingual market research, and FIG. 13 shows a displayscreen of a multilingual market research site. And FIG. 14 shows anotherdisplay screen of a multilingual market research site.

[0128] Referring to FIG. 12, first, contents for the market research (tobe installed in a home page of the Web site) are prepared in a necessarynumber of languages (see a multilingual service MLWS in FIG. 3) (stepS40).

[0129] This Web site is installed into the multilingual market researchWeb site apparatus 2 (see a multilingual service MLWS in FIG. 3). Thatis to say, it is provided on the Internet (step S41). This Web siteconfidentially deals with a page needing to be confidential. Forexample, this is a case of performing a market research with respect toreaction to a new product in various countries (in many languages).Thus, an answerer is notified of the URL and password of a Web site in alanguage capable of being translated by the answerer, as described inthe following (see FIG. 13).

[0130] Next, information retrieval is performed in the multilingualmarket research database apparatus 17 (see a multilingual marketresearch processing database engine in FIGS. 3 and 4) of themultilingual market research Web site apparatus 2, and tracking(matching) of attribute information registered through the input screenof FIG. 11 with contents of the market research publicized on theInternet (matching judgment of information including a language to be anobject of translation) is performed (step S42).

[0131] The URL of the market research Web site and the passwordscorresponding to plural answerers (multilingual user apparatuses 3)obtained by this tracking (matching) are transmitted to these answerersby electronic mail (e-mail) (step S43).

[0132] An answerer (multilingual user apparatus 3) transmits the URL andopens the Web site, and then inputs its password and opens the home pageof the market researchl of FIGS. 13 and 14. And the answerer transmitsan answer to the market research, said answer being translated or nottranslated by the answerer, to the market research performer(multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2) (step S44, see FIG.14). This destination of transmission may be the multilingual marketresearch requester apparatus 4 being the requester side for this marketresearch instead of the multilingual market research Web site apparatus2.

[0133] The multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 sidereceives and stores the answer from the answerer (multilingual userapparatus 3) into the multilingual market research database apparatus 17(step S45).

[0134] Next, in case that the answer received from the answerer(multilingual user apparatus 3) has not been translated into a necessarylanguage, the multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2 sideperforms translation onto the answer through the multilingualtranslation network by means of a translation process (working) in manylanguages shown in FIG. 3 (step S46).

[0135] Next, answer information stored in the multilingual marketresearch database apparatus 17 of the multilingual market research Website apparatus 2 are analyzed on the basis of a request from therequester side (multilingual market research requester apparatus 4)(step S47). A report is made by arranging the database analysis andtransmitted from the multilingual market research Web site apparatus 2to the multilingual market research requester apparatus 4 being therequester side. For example, it is transmitted by electronic mail (stepS48). Alter this, settlement of accounts related to a request for themarket research or a reward for an answer to the market research isperformed through the net-bank apparatus 5, as described with referenceto FIG. 8.

[0136] Referring to FIG. 13, this display screen of the market researchsite is used for asking an answerer to answer to the market research bymeans of a screen containing the URL and password. On this displayscreen, radio buttons (Japanese, English, and so forth) for selecting alanguage (Language) is displayed and the following items related to themarket research are displayed. And this screen introduces a product andinquires the “feeling” to it. And it provides an opinion column for it.An answerer capable of translating writes its translated text in thisopinion column.

[0137] And this screen displays the electronic mail (e-mail) address andpassword of the destination of transmission of an answer (multilingualmarket research Web site apparatus 2).

[0138] Referring to FIG. 14, this display screen of the market researchsite is used for performing, for example, a detailed market research ofa product. The purport of the market research, product information andquestionnaire items are displayed.

[0139] (9) Another embodiment being in combination with a mobilecommunication network FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing theconfiguration of a main part of a mobile communication network.

[0140] This example comprises a digital mobile communication circuitnetwork 20 of a PDC (Personal Digital Cellar Telecommunication System)method, a PHS (Personal Handyphone System) method and the like connectedby a connection device (gateway device or PHS connection device) forperforming a communication protocol conversion and the like with thedigital wire communication circuit network 1 shown in FIG. 1, and amobile terminal 21 as a radio communication means to be connected with acell base station 20 a through a radio channel. The mobile terminal 21has a mobile computer 22 connected to it.

[0141] This mobile terminal 21 is of an ordinary composition whichcomprises, for example, a transmitter/receiver part,modulator/demodulator part, time-division multiplexer part, Codec(coder/decoder) part, CPU, frequency change synthesizer, reception fieldstrength (RSSI) detector part, external device connection interfacepart, incoming indicator light emitting diode, keypad, liquid crystaldisplay device, incoming indication vibrator and the like. The mobilecomputer 22 is also of a similar composition to a general-purpose smallcomputer of the multilingual user apparatus 3 and the like in FIG. 1.

[0142] A method of transmission between the digital mobile communicationcircuit network 20 and a mobile terminal 21 may be any of a TDMA (PDC)method, TDMA/TDD (PHS) method and CDMA method (IS-95/IMT-2000), and itsmodulation method (PSK method or the like) is not limited in particular.

[0143] The digital mobile communication circuit network 20 and a mobileterminal 21 communicate with each other through a digital mobilecommunication circuit network 3 by means of a radio section (airinterface) of ARIB-27/28 standard (PDC method/PHS method), for example.It is preferable to apply the PHS method which can perform a broad-bandtransmission which is fast in data transfer rate in the present stateand makes it easy to access the Internet by means of the PIAFS (PHSInternet Access Forum Standard) method to this communication.

[0144] These mobile terminal 21 and mobile computer 22 perform a“multilingual market research of the present invention” described abovethrough the digital mobile communication circuit network 20. In thisembodiment, a variation example as described in the following is alsopossible.

[0145] The digital wire communication circuit network 1 may use ananalog telephone network PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), andas a circuit connection device in this case, an NCU (Network ControlUnit) and a modulator and demodulator (modem) may be used.

[0146] And the present invention can be also implemented by using adigital wire communication circuit network 1 in combination with acomputer-to-computer communication using a communication protocol suchas Z/YMODEM and the like in place of the TCP/IP transmission method.

[0147] Further, in the configuration of FIG. 1, a multilingual marketresearch covering various countries (areas), namely, a market researchthrough an extranet has been explained, but a multilingual marketresearch can be performed also in one country (area). That is to say, amultilingual market research can be performed by inviting answerers whocan perform translation into many languages and have knowledge enough tocope with a market research in their country. In this case, the Internetin one country (area) is used.

[0148] And each apparatus of FIG. 1 may be formed into a duplexconfiguration composed of a current system and a spare system inconsideration of improving its transmission reliability and preventingloss of stored data.

[0149] Additionally, the present invention is implemented by utilizingthe publicity (utilization by many unspecified persons) on the Internet,but can be applied also to a closed communication network being notopened to the public such as a company's Ethernet LAN, WAN (Wide AreaNetwork) having FDDI-LAN, and the like as it is. And these embodimentshave been described under the assumption that a program is installed bymeans of an FD (floppy disk), CD-ROM or detachable memory, but such aprogram can be also installed by download through the Internet, forexample.

[0150] The above application and variation examples can be easilycarried out by persons in the same field, and the application andvariation examples within the equal scope are all included in thepresent invention.

[0151] As apparently known from the above description, according to amethod for performing multilingual market research by means of a two-waycomputer communication network of the present invention, and acommunication system and information recording medium for the samemethod, it has been put into practice to ask answerers to a marketresearch to answer to the market research in many languages and acquireanswers to the market research adapted to each of multilingual areasand/or multilingual users.

[0152] As a result, an effect that it becomes possible to quickly andsecurely perform an international market research in many languagesthrough a two-way computer communication network and, for example,quickly and securely perform an international market research based upona request from a multinational corporation. In this case, there is aneffect that the multinational corporation and the like can easilydevelop onto the market.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0153] The present invention can be applied to a method for performingmultilingual market research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork, said method performing, for example, an international marketresearch in many languages by utilizing a two-way computer communicationnetwork, and a communication system and information recording medium forthe same method.

1. A method for performing a multilingual market research through atwo-way computer communication network, comprising; a step in which amarket research performing side receives a request for a multilingualmarket research, a step in which the market research performing sideinvites answerers to the multilingual market research through saidcommunication network, a step in which the market research performingside asks the answerers who have applied for the invitation to answer tothe market research in many languages through said communicationnetwork, a step of translating answer information to the multilingualmarket research through a multilingual translation network, and a stepin which the market research performing side performs a report based onanswer information to the market research from the answerers to themarket research requester side.
 2. A method for performing amultilingual market research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork according to claim 1, wherein said multilingual market researchis an international market research related to areas where manylanguages are in use and/or users of many languages.
 3. A method forperforming a multilingual market research through a two-way computercommunication network according to claim 1, wherein said market researchperforming side obtains attribute information related to answerersincluding their translatable languages, areas, names, addresses, sexesand ages from the answerers when inviting answerers to said multilingualmarket research, and selects contents of requested market researchinformation, said contents being matched with the attribute information,and asks the answerers to answer to the market research.
 4. A method forperforming a multilingual market research through a two-way computercommunication network according to claim 1, wherein an answerer performstranslation through said multilingual translation network when theanswerer answers to the market research.
 5. A method for performing amultilingual market research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork according to claim 1, wherein the market research performingside receives answer information to the market research from an answererthrough a communication network and thereafter a translator other thanthe answerer performs translation through said multilingual translationnetwork.
 6. A method for performing a multilingual market researchthrough a two-way computer communication network according to claim 1,wherein said market research performing side and the market researchrequester side ire the same as each other.
 7. A method for performing amultilingual market research through a two-way computer communicationnetwork according to claim 1, settling a reward to said answerer and acharge for said market research through the communication network.
 8. Amethod for performing a multilingual market research through a two-waycomputer communication network according to claim 1, settling saidreward to an answerer by offering an article including a giftcertificate.
 9. A method for performing a multilingual market researchthrough a two-way computer communication network according to claim 1,wherein the market research performing side judges whether or not saidanswer information to the market research from an answerer is adequateand, in case that the answer information is inadequate, asks a questionof the answerer to compensate for the inadequacies.
 10. A method forperforming a multilingual market research through a two-way computercommunication network according to claim 1, wherein the market researchperforming side gives a password to each of answerers and the marketresearch requester side and performs transmission/reception ofinformation through the communication network by means of the passwords.11. A multilingual market research communication system for performing amultilingual market research using a two-way computer communicationnetwork, comprising; a multilingual market research Web site apparatusfor receiving a request for a multilingual market research, performinginvitation of answerers to the multilingual market research, asking ananswerer who has applied for this invitation to answer to themultilingual market research and transferring a report based upon answerinformation to the market research from answerers to the market researchrequester side, a multilingual user apparatus for responding to theinvitation of answerers to the multilingual market research from saidmultilingual market research Web site apparatus and transferring answerinformation to the requested market research, and a multilingual marketresearch requester apparatus for requesting said multilingual marketresearch Web site apparatus to perform a multilingual market researchand receiving a report of the market research from said multilingualmarket research Web site apparatus.
 12. A multilingual market researchcommunication system according to claim 11, wherein said communicationnetwork is a communication network under a TCP/IP environment.
 13. Amultilingual market research communication system according to claim 11,wherein said communication network is a public or non-public wirecommunication network, and said multilingual market research Web siteapparatus, multilingual user apparatus and multilingual market researchrequester apparatus each are a fixed computer.
 14. A multilingual marketresearch communication system according to claim 11, wherein saidcommunication network is a public or non-public mobile communicationnetwork, and said multilingual market research Web site apparatus,multilingual user apparatus and multilingual market research requesterapparatus each are of a composition having a mobile telephone connectedto a mobile computer or are a mobile telephone having a mobile computerfunction built in it.
 15. A multilingual market research communicationsystem according to claim 11, wherein a net-bank apparatus for settlinga reward to be paid by said multilingual market research Web siteapparatus side to a multilingual user apparatus side in compensation foran answer to the market research and a charge for the market research tobe received by the multilingual market research Web site apparatus sidefrom the multilingual market research requester apparatus side isfurther arranged on the communication network.
 16. A multilingual marketresearch communication system according to claim 11, wherein saidmultilingual market research Web site apparatus is provided with amultilingual market research database for, on request, matching(tracking) market research contents stored in it with attributeinformation related to answerers including their translatable languages,areas, names, addresses, sexes and ages obtained when inviting theanswerers to a multilingual market research.
 17. A multilingual marketresearch communication system according to claim 11, wherein saidmultilingual market research Web site apparatus and said multilingualmarket research requester apparatus are separately arranged on thecommunication network, and said multilingual market research Web siteapparatus and said multilingual market research requester apparatus areoperated by different operators, or said multilingual market researchWeb site apparatus and said multilingual market research requesterapparatus are formed in one and said multilingual market research Website apparatus is operated by an operator of said multilingual marketresearch requester apparatus.
 18. A multilingual market researchcommunication system according to claim 11, functioning as amultilingual translation network for performing multilingual translationusing a communication network.
 19. An information recording mediumstoring in it a program for enabling a substantial computer to control;a process in which a market research performing side receives a requestfor a multilingual market research, a process in which the marketresearch performing side performs invitation of answerers to themultilingual market research through said communication network, aprocess in which the market research performing side asks the answererswho have applied for the invitation to answer to the multilingual marketresearch through said communication network, a process of translatinganswer information to the multilingual market research through amultilingual translation network, and a process in which the marketresearch performing side performs a report based on answer informationto the market research from answerers to the market research requesterside.
 20. An information recording medium according to claim 19, storingin it a program for enabling a substantial computer to control oneprocess or some combined processes or all of the following processes (a)to (g); (a) a process of performing a request for a market research anda report of a market research through a communication network, (b) aprocess of selecting market research contents matched with attributeinformation obtained when inviting answerers to the multilingual marketresearch and asking answerers to answer to the market research, (c) aprocess in which an answerer performs translation when answering to themarket research, (d) a process in which the market research performingside receives answer information to the market research through acommunication network and thereafter a translator other than theanswerer translates the answer information through a multilingualtranslation network, (e) a process of settling a reward to an answererand a charge for the market research through a net bank on thecommunication network, (f) a process of correcting and compensating forinadequate answer information to the market research from an answererthrough a communication network, and (g) a process oftransmitting/receiving information through a communication network bymeans of passwords.